Method and apparatus for control resource set configuration for common control

ABSTRACT

A user equipment (UE) for receiving control information in a wireless communication system includes a transceiver configured to receive a synchronization signal/physical broadcasting channel (SS/PBCH) block of an index i from a BS, wherein SS/PBCH block comprises a PBCH carrying master information block (MIB). The UE includes a processor configured to for the SS/PBCH block of the index i, determine a slot index no as a sum of an offset value and [i*M]. The offset value is determined based on a first value O determined according to the index indicated in the MIB, wherein the index configures PDCCH monitoring occasions, and a second value μ indicated in the MIB, wherein the second value μ represents a subcarrier spacing configuration, wherein M is a positive number determined according to the index indicated in the MIB, and cause the transceiver to decode a PDCCH in the slot index no.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/130,970, filed on Sep. 13, 2018, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/562,067, filed on Sep. 22, 2017;U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/565,815, filed on Sep. 29,2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/585,340, filed on Nov.13, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/586,538, filed onNov. 15, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/587,876,filed on Nov. 17, 2017. The contents of the above-identified patentdocuments are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to configuring control resource set forcommon and/or specific control information in next generation wirelesscommunication systems.

BACKGROUND

5th generation (5G) mobile communications, initial commercialization ofwhich is expected around 2020, is recently gathering increased momentumwith all the worldwide technical activities on the various candidatetechnologies from industry and academia. The candidate enablers for the5G mobile communications include massive antenna technologies, fromlegacy cellular frequency bands up to high frequencies, to providebeamforming gain and support increased capacity, new waveform (e.g., anew radio access technology (RAT)) to flexibly accommodate variousservices/applications with different requirements, new multiple accessschemes to support massive connections, and so on. The InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) has categorized the usage scenarios forinternational mobile telecommunications (IMT) for 2020 and beyond into 3main groups such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine typecommunications (MTC), and ultra-reliable and low latency communications.In addition, the ITC has specified target requirements such as peak datarates of 20 gigabit per second (Gb/s), user experienced data rates of100 megabit per second (Mb/s), a spectrum efficiency improvement of 3×,support for up to 500 kilometer per hour (km/h) mobility, 1 millisecond(ms) latency, a connection density of 106 devices/km2, a network energyefficiency improvement of 100× and an area traffic capacity of 10Mb/s/m2. While all the requirements need not be met simultaneously, thedesign of 5G networks may provide flexibility to support variousapplications meeting part of the above requirements on a use case basis.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5Gcommunication system to be provided for supporting higher data ratesbeyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as long termevolution (LTE). Embodiments of the present disclosure provide multipleservices in advanced communication systems.

In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) for receiving controlinformation in a wireless communication system is provided. The UEincludes a transceiver configured to receive a synchronizationsignal/physical broadcasting channel (SS/PBCH) block of an index i froma base station (BS), wherein SS/PBCH block comprises a PBCH carryingmaster information block (MIB), and a processor configured to, for theSS/PBCH block of the index i, determine a slot index no as a sum of anoffset value and [i*M], wherein the offset value is determined based on:a first value O determined according to an index indicated in the MIB,pdcch-ConfigSIB1, wherein the index configures physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH) monitoring occasions; and a second value μ indicated inthe MIB, wherein the second value μ represents a subcarrier spacingconfiguration, wherein M is a positive number determined according topdcch-ConfigSIB1; and cause the transceiver to decode a PDCCH in theslot index no.

In a second embodiment, a base station (BS) for transmitting controlinformation in a wireless communication system is provided. The BSincludes a processor configured to, for a synchronizationsignal/physical broadcasting channel (SS/PBCH) block of an index i,configure a slot index no as a sum of an offset value and [i*M], whereinSS/PBCH block comprises a PBCH carrying master information block (MIB),wherein the offset value is determined based on: a first value Odetermined according to an index indicated in the MIB, pdcch-ConfigSIB1,wherein the index configures physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)monitoring occasions, and a second value μ indicated in the MIB, whereinthe second value μ represents a subcarrier spacing configuration,wherein M is a positive number determined according to thepdcch-ConfigSIB1, and a transceiver configured to transmit the SS/PBCHblock of the index i, and a PDCCH in the slot index no to a userequipment (UE).

In a third embodiment, a method for receiving control information in awireless communication system is provided. The method includes receivinga synchronization signal/physical broadcasting channel (SS/PBCH) blockof an index i from a base station (BS), wherein SS/PBCH block comprisesa PBCH carrying master information block (MIB), and for the SS/PBCHblock of the index i, determining a slot index no, as a sum of an offsetvalue and [i*M], wherein the offset value is determined based on: afirst value O determined according to an index indicated in the MIB,pdcch-ConfigSIB1, wherein the index configures physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH) monitoring occasions; and a second value μ indicated inthe MIB, wherein the second value μ represents a subcarrier spacingconfiguration, wherein M is a positive number determined according tothe pdcch-ConfigSIB1; and cause a transceiver to decode a PDCCH in theslot index no.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivativesrefer to any direct or indirect communication between two or moreelements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with oneanother. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller may beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used,and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art shouldunderstand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply toprior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example enhanced NodeB (eNB) according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example high-level diagram of an orthogonalfrequency division multiple access transmit path according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B illustrates an example high-level diagram of an orthogonalfrequency division multiple access receive path according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example network slicing according to embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example number of digital chains according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary initial access process for enhancedmobile broadband (eMBB) user equipment (UE), and FIG. 7B illustrates anexemplary initial access procedure for a minimum cap UE, according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates exemplary methods of signaling of variablenumber of repetitions to fulfil a desired coverage according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary time domain mapping of the signaturesequence blocks (SSBs) in a time unit according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates another exemplary time domain mapping of the SSBs ina time unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows the slots mapped with the control resource set (CORESET)burst set when remaining minimum system information (RMSI) SCS is 15 or30 kHz according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows the slots mapped with the CORESET burst set when remainingminimum system information (RMSI) subcarrier spacing (SCS) is 60 or 120kHz according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D illustrate CORESET mappings for FrequencyDivision Multiplexed (FDM'ed) CORESET physical downlink shared channel(PDSCH) with SSBs, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary system information block x (SIBx)CORESET transmission timing according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 15A, 15BA and 15BB illustrates alternative SIBx CORESETtransmission timings according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary diagram illustrating how RMSI CORESET parametersare configured according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is another exemplary diagram illustrating how RMSI CORESETparameters are configured according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of a method for receivingcontrol information in a wireless communication system according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 through FIG. 18, discussed below, and the various embodimentsused to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference into thepresent disclosure as if fully set forth herein: 3GPP TS 36.211 v13.0.0,“E-UTRA, Physical channels and modulation;” 3GPP TS 36.212 v13.0.0,“E-UTRA, Multiplexing and Channel coding;” 3GPP TS 36.213 v13.0.0,“E-UTRA, Physical Layer Procedures;” 3GPP TS 36.214 v14.2.0, “E-UTRA,Physical Layer Measurements;” 3GPP TS 36.321 v13.0.0, “E-UTRA, MediumAccess Control (MAC) protocol specification,” and 3GPP TS 36.331v13.0.0, “E-UTRA, Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol Specification.”

To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased sincedeployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made todevelop an improved 5G or pre-5G communication system. Therefore, the 5Gor pre-5G communication system is also called a “beyond 4G network” or a“post LTE system.”

The 5G communication system is considered to be implemented in higherfrequency (mmWave) bands, e.g., 60 GHz bands, so as to accomplish higherdata rates. To decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increasethe transmission coverage, the beamforming, massive multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna,an analog beam forming, large scale antenna techniques and the like arediscussed in 5G communication systems.

In addition, in 5G communication systems, development for system networkimprovement is under way based on advanced small cells, cloud radioaccess networks (RANs), ultra-dense networks, device-to-device (D2D)communication, wireless backhaul communication, moving network,cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points (CoMP) transmissionand reception, interference mitigation and cancellation and the like.

In the 5G system, hybrid frequency shift keying and quadrature amplitudemodulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as anadaptive modulation and coding (AMC) technique, and filter bank multicarrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and sparse codemultiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have beendeveloped.

FIGS. 1-4B below describe various embodiments implemented in wirelesscommunications systems and with the use of orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA) communication techniques. The descriptions of FIGS. 1-3 are notmeant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner inwhich different embodiments may be implemented. Different embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably-arrangedcommunications system.

Depending on the network type, the term “base station” or “BS” can referto any component (or collection of components) configured to providewireless access to a network, such as transmit point (TP),transmit-receive point (TRP), an enhanced base station (eNodeB or eNB),a 5G base station (gNB), a macrocell, a femtocell, a WiFi access point(AP), or other wirelessly enabled devices. Base stations may providewireless access in accordance with one or more wireless communicationprotocols, e.g., 5G 3GPP new radio interface/access (NR), long termevolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), high speed packet access (HSPA),Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc. For the sake of convenience, the terms “BS”and “TRP” are used interchangeably in this patent document to refer tonetwork infrastructure components that provide wireless access to remoteterminals. Also, depending on the network type, the term “userequipment” or “UE” can refer to any component such as “mobile station,”“subscriber station,” “remote terminal,” “wireless terminal,” “receivepoint,” or “user device.” For the sake of convenience, the terms “userequipment” and “UE” are used in this patent document to refer to remotewireless equipment that wirelessly accesses a BS, whether the UE is amobile device (such as a mobile telephone or smartphone) or is normallyconsidered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer or vendingmachine).

According to the legacy long term Evolution® (LTE®) specification,relative received signal strength (RSSI) measurement is performed onOrthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols containing CRSif no other indication is provided; and on the DL part of measurementsubframes, if measurement subframes are higher-layer configured.

In SS-block based Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) measurementin NR, the direct extension of the method for first case, i.e., “noindication is provided,” could be to use the OFDM symbols with SSblocks. However, the OFDM symbols with SS bocks do not provide goodrepresentative of the frequency loading condition. Hence, an alternativemechanism for the first case may be necessary.

According to the NR agreements, the UE will know the downlink (DL) partof the subframes via cell-specific RRC configuration (SIB). One possibleimplication is that one could attempt to design the RSSI measurementresource purely based on the cell-specific indications to keep ensuredthat the measurement is performed on the DL part only. However, it isnoticed that this UL/DL composition information is cell-specific, notcarrier specific or cell-common. As RSRQ measurements requires knowledgeof neighbor cell's UL/DL composition, the information is insufficient tolet UE know the UL/DL compositions of the neighbor cell's UL/DLcomposition; the information is insufficient for RSRQ measurements forthe neighbor cells if the measurement has to be performed on the“actual” DL part only, which could to be cell-specific.

For defining RSSI measurement resource in NR, there are twoalternatives—either to define the RSSI measurement resource (Alt 1)without considering whether the resource is DL or UL or both, or only(Alt 2) the DL part of the resource. Alt 1 and Alt 2 have their its ownpros and cons, and it is hard to decide one over the other.

One solution is to pre-configure or configure RSSI measurement resource(RMR), and ensure that the RMR is always downlink. To ensure this, thenetwork is not allowed to overwrite the transmission direction to UL. Ifthe network indicates that the transmission direction is uplink (UL) forthe RMR, the RMR configuration is prioritized (or supersedes) or thenetwork configuration of transmission direction is overridden by the RMRconfiguration. UE shall assume that the RMR portion of slot/frame is DL,despite the transmission direction configuration is UL.

Furthermore, the RMR may be explicitly configured in a frequency carrierspecific information element carried in SIBx.

When RMR configuration supersedes the transmission directionconfiguration, and the RMR configuration is carrier specific, the RSSImeasurement can be performed only in the DL part.

The RMR can be configured in terms of periodicity, offset and durationsimilarly to SMTC.

Alternatively, the RMR can be configured as only a time offset, to thestarting point of each SMTC duration.

Alternatively, the RMR can be configured as time offset (relative to thestarting point of each SMTC duration) and periodicity (e.g., in terms ofa multiple of the SMTC periodicity like 1×, 2×, 4×, [½×, ¼×], etc.). Theadvantage of this alternative is that the channel direction overridingdue to RMR can be configured to happen less frequently, which mayincrease network flexibility of UL/DL configuration.

It may be beneficial if the network has freedom to choose whether to usethis overriding behavior or not. Hence, another proposal is:

UE can be indicated whether to over-ride the channel directionconfiguration with the RMR configuration or not.

If the over-riding is indicated or pre-configured, the user equipment(UE) will assume that RMR is always DL despite the channel directionconfiguration; UE will not expect to receive UL grant or configurationto transmit PUSCH/PUCCH in RMR, and/or UE shall rate match around theRMR portion if the UE receives a UL grant or configuration whosephysical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)/physical uplink control channel(PUCCH) resource allocation includes the RMR. This is referred to “UEbehavior 1.”

If the over-riding is turned off, the UE will assume that the RMR canalso be UL; and hence the UE shall transmit PUSCH/PUCCH in the RMR. Whenthe UE is indicated to transmit PUSCH/PUCCH in a part of RMR duration,the UE cannot use them to measure RSSI. This is referred to “UE behavior2.”

If this overriding configuration is introduced, a default UE behaviorwill be necessary. The default behavior could be either, given thatthere are different pros and cons of these two UE behaviors.

This UL behavior on UL transmissions and RSSI measurements may also needto consider SS burst set composition indication which could be given byeither RRC or RMSI (i.e., SIB1).

The UL/DL configuration may indicate that time-frequency resourcecorresponding to an SS block is UL. If the SS block is turned off inboth the radio resource control (RRC) and RMSI indicated SS burst setcomposition, there is not contradicting information. However, it couldhappen that the SS block is turned on in RRC, RMSI or a separateindication for mobility measurement, but the UL/DL configurationindicates that the resource for the SS block is UL.

During the SMTC window duration in which UE performs measurement on SSblocks based on one of the SSB composition indications, the ULtransmissions should be overridden to ensure that the UE performsmeasurement (i.e., the UL transmissions need to be dropped or ratematched around on the indicated SSB OFDM symbols). On the other hand,outside the SMTC window duration in which UE receives UL/DL data, itcould be allowed so that the UE transmits PUSCH/PUCCH on an SS blockwhich is turned on by the indication (i.e., the SMTC configuration isoverridden and transmission direction configuration is prioritized).

Alternatively, to ensure that the SS blocks are received without ULinterference to all the UEs in the cell, UE always prioritize the SSBcomposition indication over the UL/DL composition indication. If thereis any collision between UL transmission and SSB reception according tothe SSB composition indication, the UE shall drop the UL transmissions,or rate match around the UL transmissions around the whole SSB OFDMsymbols according to the union of the SSB sets (corresponding to two SSBset composition indications by RMSI, RRC; and maybe another indicationfor mobility measurement purpose).

Alternatively, the UE behavior of transmitting UL signals on turned-onSSBs may further be controlled based on the type of SSB compositionindication. For example, outside the SMTC window duration, the UEtransmits UL signals on a “turned-on” SSB OFDM symbols based on RMSIindication or mobility measurement purpose indication of the SSB setcomposition, but the UE is not allowed to transmit UL signals on any ofthe “turned-on” SSB OFDM symbols based on RRC indication of the SSB setcomposition.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodimentsof the present disclosure. The embodiment of the wireless network shownin FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodiments of the wirelessnetwork 100 could be used without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network includes an eNB 101, an eNB102, and an eNB 103. The eNB 101 communicates with the eNB 102 and theeNB 103. The eNB 101 also communicates with at least one network 130,such as the Internet, a proprietary Internet Protocol (IP) network, orother data network.

The eNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of UEs within a coverage area 120 of the eNB 102. Thefirst plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which may be located in asmall business (SB); a UE 112, which may be located in an enterprise(E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); a UE 114,which may be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, which may belocated in a second residence (R); and a UE 116, which may be a mobiledevice (M), such as a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wireless PDA, orthe like. The eNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to the network130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 of the eNB103. The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE 116. Insome embodiments, one or more of the eNBs 101-103 may communicate witheach other and with the UEs 111-116 using 5G, LTE, LTE-A, WiMAX, WiFi,or other wireless communication techniques.

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood thatthe coverage areas associated with eNBs, such as the coverage areas 120and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, dependingupon the configuration of the eNBs and variations in the radioenvironment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, one or more of the UEs 111-116include circuitry, programming, or a combination thereof, for systeminformation delivery in an advanced wireless communication system. Incertain embodiments, and one or more of the eNBs 101-103 includescircuitry, programming, or a combination thereof, for efficient systeminformation delivery in an advanced wireless communication system.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network, variouschanges may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network couldinclude any number of eNBs and any number of UEs in any suitablearrangement. Also, the eNB 101 could communicate directly with anynumber of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband access tothe network 130. Similarly, each eNB 102-103 could communicate directlywith the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wireless broadbandaccess to the network 130. Further, the eNBs 101, 102, and/or 103 couldprovide access to other or additional external networks, such asexternal telephone networks or other types of data networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example eNB 102 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the eNB 102 illustrated in FIG. 2is for illustration only, and the eNBs 101 and 103 of FIG. 1 could havethe same or similar configuration. However, eNBs come in a wide varietyof configurations, and FIG. 2 does not limit the scope of thisdisclosure to any particular implementation of an eNB.

As shown in FIG. 2, the eNB 102 includes multiple antennas 205 a-205 n,multiple RF transceivers 210 a-210 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry215, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 220. The eNB 102 alsoincludes a controller/processor 225, a memory 230, and a backhaul ornetwork interface 235.

The RF transceivers 210 a-210 n receive, from the antennas 205 a-205 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs in the network100. The RF transceivers 210 a-210 n down-convert the incoming RFsignals to generate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signalsare sent to the RX processing circuitry 220, which generates processedbaseband signals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the basebandor IF signals. The RX processing circuitry 220 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 225 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 215 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 225. The TX processing circuitry 215 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 210 a-210 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 215 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 205 a-205 n.

The controller/processor 225 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the eNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 225 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 210 a-210 n, the RX processing circuitry 220, andthe TX processing circuitry 215 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 225 could support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. For instance, the controller/processor 225 could support beamforming or directional routing operations in which outgoing signals frommultiple antennas 205 a-205 n are weighted differently to effectivelysteer the outgoing signals in a desired direction. Any of a wide varietyof other functions could be supported in the eNB 102 by thecontroller/processor 225.

The controller/processor 225 is also capable of executing programs andother processes resident in the memory 230, such as an OS. Thecontroller/processor 225 can move data into or out of the memory 230 asrequired by an executing process.

The controller/processor 225 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 235. The backhaul or network interface 235 allows the eNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The interface 235 could support communications overany suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when the eNB102 is implemented as part of a cellular communication system (such asone supporting 5G, LTE, or LTE-A), the interface 235 could allow the eNB102 to communicate with other eNBs over a wired or wireless backhaulconnection. When the eNB 102 is implemented as an access point, theinterface 235 could allow the eNB 102 to communicate over a wired orwireless local area network or over a wired or wireless connection to alarger network (such as the Internet). The interface 235 includes anysuitable structure supporting communications over a wired or wirelessconnection, such as an Ethernet or RF transceiver.

The memory 230 is coupled to the controller/processor 225. Part of thememory 230 could include a RAM, and another part of the memory 230 couldinclude a Flash memory or other ROM.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates one example of eNB 102, various changes maybe made to FIG. 2. For example, the eNB 102 could include any number ofeach component shown in FIG. 2. As a particular example, an access pointcould include a number of interfaces 235, and the controller/processor225 could support routing functions to route data between differentnetwork addresses. As another particular example, while shown asincluding a single instance of TX processing circuitry 215 and a singleinstance of RX processing circuitry 220, the eNB 102 could includemultiple instances of each (such as one per RF transceiver). Also,various components in FIG. 2 could be combined, further subdivided, oromitted and additional components could be added according to particularneeds.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE 116 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the UE 116 illustrated in FIG. 3is for illustration only, and the UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 could have thesame or similar configuration. However, UEs come in a wide variety ofconfigurations, and FIG. 3 does not limit the scope of this disclosureto any particular implementation of a UE.

As shown in FIG. 3, the UE 116 includes an antenna 305, a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 310, TX processing circuitry 315, amicrophone 320, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 325. The UE 116also includes a speaker 330, a processor 340, an input/output (I/O)interface (IF) 345, a touchscreen 350, a display 355, and a memory 360.The memory 360 includes an operating system (OS) 361 and one or moreapplications 362.

The RF transceiver 310 receives, from the antenna 305, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by an eNB of the network 100. The RF transceiver 310down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an intermediatefrequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent tothe RX processing circuitry 325, which generates a processed basebandsignal by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignal. The RX processing circuitry 325 transmits the processed basebandsignal to the speaker 330 (such as for voice data) or to the processor340 for further processing (such as for web browsing data).

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 320 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the processor 340.The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes, multiplexes, and/or digitizesthe outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IFsignal. The RF transceiver 310 receives the outgoing processed basebandor IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 315 and up-converts thebaseband or IF signal to an RF signal that is transmitted via theantenna 305.

The processor 340 can include one or more processors or other processingdevices and execute the OS 361 stored in the memory 360 in order tocontrol the overall operation of the UE 116. For example, the processor340 could control the reception of forward channel signals and thetransmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceiver 310, theRX processing circuitry 325, and the TX processing circuitry 315 inaccordance with well-known principles. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The processor 340 is also capable of executing other processes andprograms resident in the memory 360, such as processes for systeminformation delivery in an advanced wireless communication system. Theprocessor 340 can move data into or out of the memory 360 as required byan executing process. In some embodiments, the processor 340 isconfigured to execute the applications 362 based on the OS 361 or inresponse to signals received from eNBs or an operator. The processor 340is also coupled to the I/O interface 345, which provides the UE 116 withthe ability to connect to other devices, such as laptop computers andhandheld computers. The I/O interface 345 is the communication pathbetween these accessories and the processor 340.

The processor 340 is also coupled to the touchscreen 350 and the display355. The operator of the UE 116 can use the touchscreen 350 to enterdata into the UE 116. The display 355 may be a liquid crystal display,light emitting diode display, or other display capable of rendering textand/or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites.

The memory 360 is coupled to the processor 340. Part of the memory 360could include a random access memory (RAM), and another part of thememory 360 could include a Flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of UE 116, various changes maybe made to FIG. 3. For example, various components in FIG. 3 could becombined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional components couldbe added according to particular needs. As a particular example, theprocessor 340 could be divided into multiple processors, such as one ormore central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphics processingunits (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 3 illustrates the UE 116 configured as amobile telephone or smartphone, UEs could be configured to operate asother types of mobile or stationary devices.

FIG. 4A is a high-level diagram of transmit path circuitry. For example,the transmit path circuitry may be used for an orthogonal frequencydivision multiple access (OFDMA) communication. FIG. 4B is a high-leveldiagram of receive path circuitry. For example, the receive pathcircuitry may be used for an orthogonal frequency division multipleaccess (OFDMA) communication. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, for downlinkcommunication, the transmit path circuitry may be implemented in a basestation (eNB) 102 or a relay station, and the receive path circuitry maybe implemented in a user equipment (e.g. user equipment 116 of FIG. 1).In other examples, for uplink communication, the receive path circuitry450 may be implemented in a base station (e.g. eNB 102 of FIG. 1) or arelay station, and the transmit path circuitry may be implemented in auser equipment (e.g. user equipment 116 of FIG. 1).

Transmit path circuitry comprises channel coding and modulation block405, serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 410, Size N Inverse Fast FourierTransform (IFFT) block 415, parallel-to-serial (P-to-S) block 420, addcyclic prefix block 425, and up-converter (UC) 430. Receive pathcircuitry 450 comprises down-converter (DC) 455, remove cyclic prefixblock 460, serial-to-parallel (S-to-P) block 465, Size N Fast FourierTransform (FFT) block 470, parallel-to-serial (P-to-S) block 475, andchannel decoding and demodulation block 480.

At least some of the components in FIGS. 4A 400 and 4B 450 may beimplemented in software, while other components may be implemented byconfigurable hardware or a mixture of software and configurablehardware. In particular, it is noted that the FFT blocks and the IFFTblocks described in this disclosure document may be implemented asconfigurable software algorithms, where the value of Size N may bemodified according to the implementation.

Furthermore, although this disclosure is directed to an embodiment thatimplements the Fast Fourier Transform and the Inverse Fast FourierTransform, this is by way of illustration only and may not be construedto limit the scope of the disclosure. It may be appreciated that in analternate embodiment of the present disclosure, the Fast FourierTransform functions and the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform functions mayeasily be replaced by discrete Fourier transform (DFT) functions andinverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) functions, respectively. Itmay be appreciated that for DFT and IDFT functions, the value of the Nvariable may be any integer number (i.e., 1, 4, 3, 4, etc.), while forFFT and IFFT functions, the value of the N variable may be any integernumber that is a power of two (i.e., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.).

In transmit path circuitry 400, channel coding and modulation block 405receives a set of information bits, applies coding (e.g., LDPC coding)and modulates (e.g., quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) or quadratureamplitude modulation (QAM)) the input bits to produce a sequence offrequency-domain modulation symbols. Serial-to-parallel block 410converts (i.e., de-multiplexes) the serial modulated symbols to paralleldata to produce N parallel symbol streams where N is the IFFT/FFT sizeused in the BS 102 and the UE 116. Size N IFFT block 415 then performsan IFFT operation on the N parallel symbol streams to producetime-domain output signals. Parallel-to-serial block 420 converts (i.e.,multiplexes) the parallel time-domain output symbols from Size N IFFTblock 415 to produce a serial time-domain signal. Add cyclic prefixblock 425 then inserts a cyclic prefix to the time-domain signal.Finally, up-converter 430 modulates (i.e., up-converts) the output ofadd cyclic prefix block 425 to RF frequency for transmission via awireless channel. The signal may also be filtered at baseband beforeconversion to RF frequency.

The transmitted RF signal arrives at the UE 116 after passing throughthe wireless channel, and reverse operations to those at eNB 102 areperformed. Down-converter 455 down-converts the received signal tobaseband frequency, and remove cyclic prefix block 460 removes thecyclic prefix to produce the serial time-domain baseband signal.Serial-to-parallel block 465 converts the time-domain baseband signal toparallel time-domain signals. Size N FFT block 470 then performs an FFTalgorithm to produce N parallel frequency-domain signals.Parallel-to-serial block 475 converts the parallel frequency-domainsignals to a sequence of modulated data symbols. Channel decoding anddemodulation block 480 demodulates and then decodes the modulatedsymbols to recover the original input data stream.

Each of eNBs 101-103 may implement a transmit path that is analogous totransmitting in the downlink to user equipment 111-116 and may implementa receive path that is analogous to receiving in the uplink from userequipment 111-116. Similarly, each one of user equipment 111-116 mayimplement a transmit path corresponding to the architecture fortransmitting in the uplink to eNBs 101-103 and may implement a receivepath corresponding to the architecture for receiving in the downlinkfrom eNBs 101-103.

5G communication system use cases have been identified and described.Those use cases can be roughly categorized into three different groups.In one example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) is determined to dowith high bits/sec requirement, with less stringent latency andreliability requirements. In another example, ultra reliable and lowlatency (URLL) is determined with less stringent bits/sec requirement.In yet another example, massive machine type communication (mMTC) isdetermined that a number of devices can be as many as 100,000 to 1million per km2, but the reliability/throughput/latency requirementcould be less stringent. This scenario may also involve power efficiencyrequirement as well, in that the battery consumption may be minimized aspossible.

FIG. 5 illustrates a network slicing 500 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. An embodiment of the network slicing 500 shown inFIG. 5 is for illustration only. One or more of the componentsillustrated in FIG. 5 can be implemented in specialized circuitryconfigured to perform the noted functions or one or more of thecomponents can be implemented by one or more processors executinginstructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodiments are usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 5, the network slicing 500 comprises an operator'snetwork 510, a plurality of RANS 520, a plurality of eNBs 530 a, 530 b,a plurality of small cell base stations 535 a, 535 b, a URLL slice 540a, a smart watch 545 a, a car 545 b, a, truck 545 c, a smart glasses 545d, a power 555 a, a temperature 555 b, an mMTC slice 550 a, an eMBBslice 560 a, a smart phone (e.g., cell phones) 565 a, a laptop 565 b,and a tablet 565 c (e.g., tablet PCs).

The operator's network 510 includes a number of radio access network(s)520—RAN(s)—that are associated with network devices, e.g., eNBs 530 aand 530 b, small cell base stations (femto/pico eNBs or Wi-Fi accesspoints) 535 a and 535 b, etc. The operator's network 510 can supportvarious services relying on the slice concept. In one example, fourslices, 540 a, 550 a, 550 b and 560 a, are supported by the network. TheURLL slice 540 a to serve UEs requiring URLL services, e.g., cars 545 b,trucks 545 c, smart watches 545 a, smart glasses 545 d, etc. Two mMTCslices 550 a and 550 b serve UEs requiring mMTC services such as powermeters and temperature control (e.g., 555 b), and one eMBB slice 560 arequiring eMBB serves such as cells phones 565 a, laptops 565 b, tablets565 c.

In short, network slicing is a scheme to cope with various differentqualities of services (QoS) in the network level. For supporting thesevarious QoS efficiently, slice-specific PHY optimization may also benecessary. Devices 545 a/b/c/d, 555 a/b are 565 a/b/c examples of userequipment (UE) of different types. The different types of user equipment(UE) shown in FIG. 5 are not necessarily associated with particulartypes of slices. For example, the cell phone 565 a, the laptop 565 b andthe tablet 565 c are associated with the eMBB slice 560 a, but this isjust for illustration and these devices can be associated with any typesof slices.

One device is configured with more than one slice. In one embodiment,the UE, (e.g., 565 a/b/c) is associated with two slices, the URLL slice540 a and the eMBB slice 560 a. This can be useful for supporting onlinegaming application, in which graphical information are transmittedthrough the eMBB slice 560 a, and user interaction related informationare exchanged through the URLL slice 540 a.

In the current LTE standard, no slice-level PHY is available, and mostof the PHY functions are utilized slice-agnostic. A UE is typicallyconfigured with a single set of PHY parameters (including transmit timeinterval (TTI) length, OFDM symbol length, subcarrier spacing, etc.),which is likely to prevent the network from (1) fast adapting todynamically changing QoS; and (2) supporting various QoS simultaneously.

It is noted that “slice” is a terminology introduced just forconvenience to refer to a logical entity that is associated with commonfeatures, for example, numerology, an upper-layer (including mediumaccess control/radio resource control (MAC/RRC)), and shared UL/DLtime-frequency resources. Alternative names for “slice” include virtualcells, hyper cells, cells, etc.

FIG. 6 illustrates a number of exemplary digital chains 600 according toembodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of the number ofdigital chains 600 shown in FIG. 6 is for illustration only. One or moreof the components illustrated in FIG. 6 can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For mmWave bands, the number of antenna elements can be large for agiven form factor. However, the number of digitally chain to be limiteddue to hardware constraints (such as the feasibility to install a largenumber of ADCs/DACs at mmWave frequencies) as illustrated in FIG. 6. Inthis case, one digital chain is mapped onto a large number of antennaelements which can be controlled by a bank of analog phase shifters. Onedigital chain can then correspond to one sub-array which produces anarrow analog beam through analog beamforming. This analog beam can beconfigured to sweep across a wider range of angles by varying the phaseshifter bank across symbols or subframes.

Several embodiments to transmit the minimum system informationtransmission in an advanced communication are provided in the presentdisclosure.

In some embodiments, RMSI is transmitted via other channels at leastpartially indicated by NR-PBCH. In one example, the NR-PBCH carries apart of minimum system information including information necessary forthe UE to receive channel carrying RMSI. In another example, the NR-PBCHcarries information necessary for the UE to perform initial ULtransmission (not limited to NR-PRACH, e.g. PRACH msg. 1) and possiblyinformation necessary to receive the response to initial UL transmission(e.g., PRACH msg. 2) in addition to information in the aforementionedexample.

In some embodiments, RMSI is transmitted via other channels notindicated in the NR-PBCH. In one example, the NR-PBCH carriesinformation necessary for the UE to perform initial UL transmission (notlimited to NR-PRACH, e.g. PRACH msg. 1) and information necessary toreceive the response to initial UL transmission (e.g. PRACH msg. 2). Insuch example, information necessary to receive RMSI is provided afterinitial UL transmission.

In some embodiments, the NR-PBCH carries all of minimum systeminformation.

In the LTE specifications, an MIB is periodically broadcast with 40 msecperiodicity, SIB-1 is periodically broadcast with 80 msec periodicity,and SIB-2 is also periodically broadcast, whose periodicity isconfigured by SIB-1.

The MIB uses a fixed schedule with a periodicity of 40 ms andrepetitions made within 40 ms. The first transmission of the MIB isscheduled in subframe #0 of radio frames for which the SFN mod 4=0, andrepetitions are scheduled in subframe #0 of all other radio frames. Fortime division duplex/frequency division duple (TDD/FDD) system with abandwidth larger than 1.4 MHz that supports BL UEs or UEs in CE, MIBtransmission may be repeated in subframe #9 of the previous radio framefor FDD and subframe #5 of the same radio frame for TDD.

This disclosure provides configuration/indication of CORESETs forreceiving common control channels, such as RMSI, OSI, system informationblock x (SIBx), random access response (RAR), etc. CORESET configurationis provided via PBCH (or MIB) for at least RMSI scheduling, and anotherCORESET configuration is provided via RMSI (or SIB1) for at least RARscheduling. In this disclosure, RMSI refers to SystemInformationBlock1(SIB1).

A CORESET (control resource set) may be characterized by a slot timing,OFDM symbol numbers in each slot, and frequency resources. These CORESETproperties are indicated or pre-configured for each CORESET. ForRMSI/SIB scheduling, the CORESET properties are provided in the PBCH.For RAR scheduling, the CORESET properties are provided in the RMSI.

Among these CORESET properties configured by PBCH/RMSI, the OFDM symbolnumbers and frequency resources are commonly applicable to all thecommon channels (e.g., SIBx/RAR, etc.), but the slot timing isspecifically determined/indicated for different SIBx/RAR.

In some embodiments, PBCH indicates the following information for theCORESET: #1) frequency resources; #2) OFDM symbol numbers in each slot;and #3) RMSI slot timing e.g., in terms of slot offset and periodicity.Information #1 and #2 can be reused for type 0 CSS, i.e., at least forSIBx transmissions for x>1. Information #3 provided in the PBCH is usedonly for RMSI transmissions; the slot timing for other SIBx (x>1) isseparately indicated. If the LTE principle is reused, the SIB2 slottiming is configured by RMSI, and the rest of the SIBx slot timings areindicated in SIB2.

The type 0 CSS CORESETs characterized by information #1) and #2) can beused for paging and/or RAR as well, along with separately optimizing theslot timing, for reducing specification efforts.

In one embodiment, PBCH indicates the following information forCORESET(s): 1) frequency resources, 2) OFDM symbol numbers in each slot,and 3) slot timing (e.g., in terms of slot offset and periodicity).Information 1) and 2) are commonly used for OSI and/or paging and/or RARtransmissions, while information 3) is applicable only for RMSI. For OSI(SIBx, x>1), paging, RAR, information 3) is individually determined orindicated.

To configure the multiple CORESETs efficiently with small signalingpayload in PBCH, one possible approach is to configure as many commonparameters for all the CORESETs as possible. Among the three informationelements discussed in an embodiment of this disclosure, information #1)frequency resources can be made common for all the CORESETs (and thecommon information is indicated in PBCHs of all the SSBs of a cell). Onthe other hand, it may be necessary to allow for different slot & OFDMsymbol timings (i.e., information #2 and #3) for multiplexing theCORESETs in a TDM manner; in this case different information for #2 and#3 may be indicated in PBCHs of different SSBs.

For indicating the timing information, two alternatives can be provided.In a first alternative, each PBCH in an SS burst set contains onlycommon information to configure the multiple CORESETs. The timing of theCORESET to be monitored upon detecting an SSB may be derived with thecommonly signaled information and the SSB index. In a secondalternative, a PBCH of an SSB in an SSB set contains both common andspecific information to configure a CORESET that is QCL'ed with the SSBcontaining the PBCH. The specific information can be used to furtheradjust the CORESET timing corresponding to the SSB, thereby more networkflexibility can be achieved than the first alternative.

The first alternative may provide more robustness, and allows easierbeam switching during the initial cell selection and IDLE mode. If thereare PBCHs with the same contents within/across SSBs, UE may be able tosoft combine the PBCHs to achieve more reliability. When the UE switchesto select another SSB beam due to intra-cell mobility, the UE can figureout an updated CORESET location just relying on the previously decodedMIB, i.e., the UE does not need to decode another MIB in the newlyselected SSB again.

The second approach provides more flexibility to the network, but forIDLE mode intra-cell mobility, UE may need to acquire the “specific”information to find the CORESET corresponding to a newly selected SSBthan the initially detected SSB. It would not be desirable if UE has todecode a PBCH in the newly selected SSB to acquire the specificinformation. A better alternative could be the specific information forall the SSBs of a cell is provided cell-specifically in SIBx, so thatthe UE can identify all the CORESET timing locations of a cell withouthaving to decode individual PBCH. In some embodiments, the specificinformation is referred to “information about SSB-specific offset”, orΔ_(ss).

In one embodiment, the timing information can be configured according toone of the following two alternatives. In the first alternative, A PBCHin an SSB contains full information to configure all the CSS CORESETs inthe cell. The timing of the CORESET corresponding to the selected SSBmay be derived with the signaled information and the SSB index. In asecond alternative, a PBCH in an SSB contains common information to beused for all the CSS CORESETs in the cell; and also specific informationto be used for identifying the location of a CORESET that corresponds to(or is QCL'ed with) the SS block containing the PBCH. The specificinformation can be used to further adjust the CORESET timingcorresponding to the SSB, thereby more network flexibility can beachieved than the first alternative.

To minimize fragmentation of the resources, it is desirable to confinethese signals to be transmitted with the MIB configured numerology,i.e., MIB configured CORESET, RMSI, RMSI configured CORESET, msg 2/4 forinitial access, broadcast OSI, etc., in a localized time-frequencyresource. In particular, for the frequency domain, the BW to transmitthese signals could comprise a single BW whose BW size is less than theUE minimum BW. Now the remaining issue is whether to additionallysupport configuration of the single BW separately from the UE minimum BWwhich encompassing the SS block BW, i.e., whether NR supports FDMbetween SS block and CORESET/PDSCH. The main arguments to support FDMfrom an operator was that the OFDM symbols used for SS blocks may not beso useful for any other purposes, if the TRP of a cell has a single TXRUand analog BF constraints are in place; and it may be useful to allowthe FDM so that the broadcast information of RMSI can be FDM'ed with theSS blocks in those OFDM symbols. This seems to be a valid argument, andit would be good to address this operator's concern if there is a simpleway to support the FDM.

The FDM can be supported by allowing to configure the frequency locationfor the single BW in terms of frequency offset to the SS block BW. Ifthe candidate frequency offset values to be indicated in the MIBincludes ‘0’ and other values corresponding to BWPs non-overlapping withthe SS block BW, then both TDM and FDM of the SS block and the single BWwill naturally be supported.

Regarding the FDM in addition to TDM of RMSI and SS block, the FDM mayrequire UE to re-tune the RF to receive the RMSI, especially when theaggregated BW of the RMSI and SS block exceeds “UE minimum BW.”

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary initial access process for eMBB UE, andFIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary initial access procedure for a minimumcapability UE, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Theembodiments shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B are for illustration only. Otherembodiments are used without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Different UEs can support different BWs as a UE capability, and therecan be UEs to support only the minimum channel BW for a specific band,e.g., 5 MHz, such as eMTC UEs in LTE. However, it is expected that eMBBUEs are likely to be able to support larger than UE minimum BW. If thecombined BW of RMSI and SS block is within 50 PRBs, eMBB UEs are likelyto be able to support reception of both RMSI and SS block using a singleRF, and correspondingly the frequent RF re-tuning is not likely to benecessary. The minimum capability UEs, however, may have to perform RFretuning to receive SS block and other signals in different BWs. This RFre-tuning operation has been supported for LTE eMTC, and it hence doesnot seem to be an issue to mandate the RF re-tuning for minimumcapability UEs.

For facilitating minimum capability UE's reception of SSBs and otherinitial access signals, it could be considered such that theintra-frequency SMTC configuration (i.e., periodicity, offset andduration) is provided in the early stage of initial access, e.g., RMSIor SIBx. For the minimum capability UEs, the intra-frequency SMTCduration may be regarded as measurement gap, similarly to the legacyinter-frequency case.

It is noted that BWP is a UE specific concept. Effectively, a UE withminimum capability will see initial active BWP of 25 PRBs correspondingto the BW carrying RMSI, RAR and Open System Interconnection (OSI), andan eMBB UE will see initial active BWP of 50 PRBs, corresponding to theaggregated BW of SSB BW and RMSI/RAR/OSI BW.

When the combined BW size of SSB and RMSI is about 50 PRBs: UEssupporting more than 50-PRB maximum channel bandwidth do not need toperform RF retuning; and UEs supporting only minimum channel BW needs toperform RF retuning for TDM reception of SS blocks and other signals. Tofacilitate UE's TDM reception of SS blocks, SMTC configuration may beprovided early, e.g., in RMSI. The SMTC duration may be regarded asmeasurement gap.

In one embodiment, an initial-active BW is configured in MIB by means ofa frequency offset. The initial-active BW is to transmit these signalsaccording to the MIB configured numerology, i.e., MIB configuredCORESET, RMSI, RMSI configured CORESET, msg 2/4 for initial access,broadcast OSI, and the like. The candidate values to indicate thefrequency offset include at least {0, +25, −25} PRBs, so that thecombined BW of SS block and the initial-active BW is minimized. Thenumber of bits for the frequency offset is limited to 2 bits.

Configuration of CORESET Burst Set Parameters for CSS

Values of some parameters for configuring CORESETs for CSS are fixed,and values of some other parameters are indicated in the MIB.

Frequency information parameters may include number of PRBs (e.g., BW)for CORESETs for CSS and the frequency location in a minimum carrier BW.Note that it is desirable to confine and configure CORESETs for CSSwithin a minimum carrier BW to avoid too many retuning by the UE. Thisconfiguration is likely to be common across all the SS blocks, andincludes the following information contents. The number of PRBs (e.g.,BW): Given that the minimum carrier BWs are 5 MHz (for below 6 GHz) and50 MHz (for below 6 GHz), the candidate PRB allocation for the CORESETwould be limited or even further fixed to the minimum carrier BW. Tosave signalling overhead, it is proposed to use a fixed BW of 25 PRBs.Frequency location: a 2-bit information is used to indicate a PRB offsetfor the CORESET/RMSI and other signals with respect to the SS blockfrequency.

Timing information parameters may include periodicity, slot location,OFDM symbol numbers. The information contents are summarized below.

Periodicity: For the CSS, the periodicity does not need to be explicitlyconfigured in PBCH. It is noted that for individual SIBx, thisperiodicity and SSB-common slot offset can be signalled or predefined inthe spec.

Slot location: The CSS CORESETs may come as a burst set similarly to SSBset, and each CSS CORESET slot location corresponding to SSB i_(ss) canbe determined as n_(s)=o_(common)+ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss)). Here, thenotation ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss)) implies that the resulting value ofƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss)) is at least partly dependent upon at least oneof n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss). o_(common): a common offset for all the CSSCORESETs (i.e., starting slot number of the CSS CORESET burst set), maybe configured in RMSI/OSI, which could be frame, half-frame startingboundary or a slot starting boundary. Note that o_(common) for RMSICORESETs (i.e., o_(RMSI)) needs to be provided in PBCH or predefined inthe spec. i_(ss): SSB index, i.e., 0, 1, . . . , L−1, where L isdetermined band specifically. n_(ss): Slot number to map SSB i_(ss),where the slot number is defined according to the SSB numerology.Δ_(ss): information about SSB-specific offset provided in the PBCH. Thevalue of this parameter may be SSB specific, i.e., different values maybe indicated in different SSBs.

OFDM symbol indices: OFDM symbols in a slot for a CORESET that should bemonitored when UE detects an SSB i_(ss). The symbol indices need to beindicated in MIB. The OFDM symbol indices may be determined depending atleast partly on number of CORESETs per slot and the SSB & RMSInumerology/SCS. The number of CORESETs to be mapped per slot can be oneor two [or four), which could be signaled in the PBCH. The decision ofthe number of CORESETs per slot is network implementation issue, and theNW will determine the number with considering the support of FDM and TDMof RMSI and SS blocks, and the support of slot-based and non-slot basedtransmissions.

CCE-to-REG mapping: fixed to ‘interleaved’ only (i.e., no configurationis needed).

REG bundling size: Fixed to be 6.

DMRS BW: Fixed to be WB-RS, i.e., according to option ii) as follows.For a CORESET, precoder granularity in frequency domain is Configurablebetween option i) equal to the REG bundle size in the frequency domain;or option ii) equal to the number of contiguous RBs in the frequencydomain within the CORESET. For option ii), DMRS is mapped over all REGswithin the CORESET.

Quasi-CoLocation (QCL): a CORESET corresponding to an SS block is QCL'edto the SS block. The correspondence is indicated in the PBCH by means ofthe RMSI CORESET signaling.

PDSCH resource mapping type (slot vs. non-slot): implicitly configuredby the number of configured CORESETs per slot. If one, slot-basedtransmission; if two or more, non-slot based transmissions. The numberof configured CORESETs per slot can be implicitly/explicitly indicatedin the PBCH.

Configuration of CORESET Burst Set Parameters for RMSI

Frequency information is same as CORESETs for CSS. No additionalconfiguration is necessary.

Timing information includes a periodicity and number of repetitionswithin RMSI TTI, slot location and OFDM symbol indices.

A periodicity and number of repetitions within RMSI TTI (Timinginformation): a mini-slot or a full-slot can be used for RMSI PDSCHtransmissions. This results in more than 2× coding rate variations onPDSCH used for RMSI, and hence it is necessary to allow variable numberof repetitions to support worst case coverage.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates exemplary methods of signaling of variablenumber of repetitions to fulfil a desired coverage according toembodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B are for illustration only. Other embodiments are used withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

In the method 1 as illustrated in FIG. 8A, variable numbers of CORESETburst sets (e.g., 4 or 8 repetitions or burst sets) are mapped in afixed RMSI TTI duration (e.g., 80 msec). The resulting RMSI duty cycleswill be 10 and 20 msec, respectively for 8 and 4 repetitions.

In the method 2 as illustrated in FIG. 8B, RMSI TTI duration scales withthe number of repetitions (e.g., 4 or 8 repetitions), while the RMSIduty cycle is kept the same (e.g., 20 msec). The resulting RMSI TTIdurations will be 80 and 160 msec respectively for 4 and 8 repetitions.

Slot location (Timing information) can be determined asn_(s)=o_(RMSI)+ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss)). o_(RMSI)∈{0, o₁, o₂, . . . },for example, where or could corresponds to the number of slots in a halfframe according to the configured RMSI numerology. Note that hereo_(common) for CSS corresponds to o_(RMSI). When o_(RMSI)=0, the RMSIand SS blocks are mapped in FDM manner; or when FDM is signalled, UEshall assume o_(RMSI)=0. Depending on how many CORESETs are mapped perslot, different function ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss)) may be used. It isexpected that either one or two CORESETs can be mapped per slot,considering the support of FDM and TDM of RMSI and SS blocks, and alsothe support of slot-based and non-slot based transmissions. Theintention to introduce SSB specific Δ_(ss) is to allow possibility ofassigning a same CORESET for differently indexed SSBs. For example, SSB0 and 1 points to the same CORESET by utilizing the delta offset. Thisprovides a mechanism to allow number of CORESETs in the CORESET burstset to be smaller than the number of SSBs in the SSB set.

OFDM symbol indices (Timing information): can be determined as afunction of at least one of numerology, number of CORESETs per slot,i_(ss), and Δ_(ss). The number of OFDM symbols can be jointly determinedwith the RMSI CORESET BW, to be able to configure 48 or 96 REGs. Thestarting OFDM symbol may be determined as a function of at least one ofthe RMSI numerology, the SSB numerology, number of CORESETs per slot,and i_(ss). In particular FDM/TDM of RMSI PDSCH and SSB clearly affectsthe CORESET time domain mapping.

In some embodiments, the RMSI scheduling configuration is indicatedaccording to TABLE 1.

TABLE 1 Information field Number of bits contents Numerology 1 bit Up totwo values BW for CORESET (equivalent 0 bit (fixed in the spec) 25 PRBs(can be 24) to max BW for RMSI PDSCH) CORESET PRB offset 2 bits {0, +25,−25, [+50, −50 or N/A]} RMSI CORESET monitoring X (=3-4) bits RMSIPDCCH/PDSCH timing periodicity, number of repetitions within RMSI TTI,slot location, number of CORESETs per slot, OFDM symbol indices

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary time domain mapping of the SSBs in atime unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Theembodiment shown in FIG. 9 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Whether the system utilizes the Frequency Division Multiplex (FDM) orTime Division Multiplex (TDM) may be indicated by means of o_(RMSI)being 0 (FDM) or the number of slots corresponding to non-zero value(TDM) in the RMSI numerology.

If FDM, the time-domain mapping of RMSI PDSCH is aligned with the SSblocks, and a distinct CORESET will be assigned to an SS block, wherethe CORESET is QCL'ed with the SS block in a set of large scaleparameters, including the spatial parameters.

If TDM, the timing-domain mapping of RMSI PDSCH/CORESETs can be moreflexibly designed. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the length of time unit is1 msec, for 15 and 30 kHz SCS, and the length of time unit is 0.25 msec,for 120 and 240 kHz. The SSB location in time domain is dependent uponthe subcarrier spacing value. The shaded areas correspond to the SSBlocations. For example, for 15 kHz SCS, OFDM symbols {2, 3, 4, 5} and{8, 9, 10, 11} are used for SSB mapping in a 14-symbol slot.

FIG. 10 illustrates another exemplary time domain mapping of the SSBs ina time unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Theembodiment shown in FIG. 10 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Two or four time units are consecutively placed in time domain to mapthe full SSB set for a given carrier frequency and subcarrier spacing.The time unit mapping is illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the full SSBs are mapped (according to the value of L), up to 5msec duration is occupied. Hence, a common offset value, o_(RMSI), thatcan always be used for TDM mapping is the slot number corresponding to 5msec. If mapping of both SSBs and RMSIs in a same half-frame is desired,the slot number corresponding to 2 or 3 msec in the RMSI numerology canalso be considered to be signaled. This second number may be necessaryfor 5 msec SSB periodicity and TDM is desired by the network. Similarly,the slot number corresponding to 7 or 8 msec in the RMSI numerology canalso be considered.

Candidate values for o_(RMSI)=0, (the slot number corresponding to 5msec in the RMSI numerology), (the slot number corresponding to 2 or 3msec in the RMSI numerology), (the slot number corresponding to 7 or 8msec in the RMSI numerology).

In case of FDM mapping, one out of two candidate o_(RMSI) values may beconfigured, one value is the value corresponding to or =2 or 3 msec, andthe other value is o₂=5 msec. The candidate values for o_(RMSI) may bespecified in a numerology specific manner. One example is shown in Table2.

TABLE 2 Candidate Value Candidate Value Candidate Value 1: The slot 2:The slot 3: The slot number number number RMSI SCS Candidatecorresponding to corresponding to corresponding to μ Δf = 2^(μ) ·15[kHz] value 0 2 or 3 msec 5 msec 7 msec 0 15 0 2 or 3 5 7 or 8 1 30 04 or 6 10 14 or 16 2 60 0  8 or 12 20 28 or 32 3 120 0 16 or 24 40 56 or64

An alternative table specifying the candidate values for o_(RMSI) isshown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 RMSI SCS Candidate Candidate Candidate Candidate μ Δf = 2^(μ) ·15[kHz] value 0 Value 1: Value 2: Value 3: 0 15 0 2 (2 msec)  5 (5 msec)7 (7 msec) 1 30 0 4 (2 msec) 10 (5 msec) 14 (7 msec) 2 60 0 10 (2.5msec) 20 (5 msec) 30 (7.5 msec) 3 120 0 20 (2.5 msec) 40 (5 msec) 60(7.5 msec)

In some embodiments, at least one of (the number of CORESETs per slot),(slot number for the RMSI CORESET), o_(RMSI), and (OFDM symbol indicesin the slot) are indicated jointly by a bit field conveyed in the PBCHas part of RMSI scheduling information. In some embodiments, the bitfield is referred to as pdcch-ConfigSIB1. One example construction isshown in TABLE 4.

TABLE 4 o_(RMSI) in msec Slot number for the (need to be CORESET OFDMsymbol RMSI CORESET (here converted into # of indices (the first symbolall the variables are in slots dependent number corresponds to the #CORESETS slots in the RMSI upon the SSB starting OFDM symbol of Indexper slot numerology) numerology) the CORESET) 0 1 n_(S) = o_(RMSI) +i_(ss) 5 {0, 1} 1 1 n_(S) = o_(RMSI) + i_(ss) 5 {0, 1, 2} 2 2 n_(S) =n_(ss) + o_(RMSI) . . . 0 (this is for FDM) {0, 1} if SSB index even;this works only when {6, 7} if SSB index odd the RMSI numerology is thesame as SSB numerology 3 2 n_(S) = o_(RMSI) + floor(i_(ss)/2) 5 {0, 1}if SSB index even; {2, 3} or {6, 7} if SSB index odd

From FIG. 9, it can be seen that the possible locations of the OFDMsymbols for the CORESET mapping corresponding to an SSB is dependentupon the numerology. If FDM is used (e.g., by means of indicatingo_(RMSI)=0) for the RMSI and SS blocks, and the same numerology is usedfor the SSB and RMSI, the OFDM symbol numbers are determined as in TABLE5.

TABLE 5 OFDM symbol numbers and slot index to map the CORESETcorresponding to the SSB i_(ss) (the first SSB SCS and time Number ofSSBs symbol number corresponds to the starting OFDM unit length in atime unit symbol of the CORESET) 15 kHz and 1 msec 2 If i_(ss) = 2k,OFDM symbols {0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 2k + 1, OFDMsymbols {6, 7} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) 30 kHz and 1 msec 4 If i_(ss) =4k, OFDM symbols {0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 4k + 1, OFDMsymbols {2, 3} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 4k + 2, OFDM symbols{12, 13} in slot (n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1) If i_(ss) = 4k + 1, OFDM symbols{0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) 120 kHz and 0.25 msec 4 If i_(ss) = 4k,OFDM symbols {0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 4k + 1, OFDMsymbols {2, 3} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 4k + 2, OFDM symbols{12, 13} in slot (n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1) If i_(ss) = 4k + 1, OFDM symbols{0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss))

If TDM is used, indication of slot and OFDM symbol locations for theCORESET burst set can be designed in a more flexible manner. However,fully flexible solution cannot be supported in NR, because of theconstraints we have in the PBCH payload. In case full-slot scheduling isused, the number of CORESETs in a slot should be fixed to be one. Thenumber of slots necessary to support the L CORESETs corresponding to LSSBs will be L slots in this case. Alternatively, when the non-slotbased scheduling is used, e.g., with allocating two CORESETs per slot,the number of slots necessary to support the L CORESETs will be L/2slots. This method could reduce the common search space CORESEToverhead. In order to further reduce the common search space CORESEToverhead, non-one-to-one correspondence of SSB and CORESET mappingshould be supported. One way to achieve this is to indicate the SSBspecific resource offset information Δ_(ss)(i_(ss)) in the PBCH of eachSSB. In one example, when Δ_(ss)(i_(ss))=0, the CORESET time locationsare selected according to the one-to-one mapping rule between the SSBsand CORESETs. When Δ_(ss)(i_(ss))=0, the CORESET time locations for theeven numbered i_(ss) are selected according to the one-to-one mappingrule, while the CORESET time locations for the odd numbered i_(ss) willbe selected to be the time locations corresponding to i_(ss)−1,according to the one-to-one mapping rule. This way, the same CORESETresource is indicated by two different SSBs in consecutive SSB indices.

One example of one-to-one correspondence of SSB and CORESET timing incase of mapping a single CORESET per slot is described as in thefollowing Slot number (in RMSI numerology) can be determined asn_(s)=o_(RMSI)+i_(ss); in this case, ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss))=i_(ss).OFDM symbol numbers are fixed to be {0, 1}.

One example of one-to-one correspondence of SSB and CORESET timing incase of mapping two (2 CORESETs per slot to be used for TDM case (i.e.,o_(RMSI) is non-zero) is described as in the following. Slot number (inRMSI numerology) can be determined as n_(s)=o_(RMSI)+floor(i_(ss)/2); inthis case, ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss), Δ_(ss))=floor(i_(ss)/2). Similarly, if NCORESETs per slot, n_(s)=o_(RMSI)+floor(i_(ss)/N), where N is aninteger; OFDM symbol numbers are determined to be {0, 1} fixed if i_(ss)is even; or {2, 3} fixed or alternatively {7, 8} fixed if i_(ss) is odd.

FIG. 11 shows the slots mapped with the CORESET burst set when RMSI SCSis 15 or 30 kHz according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Theembodiments shown in FIG. 11 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 11, the shaded slots are the ones mapped with the CORESET. Theassociation of SSB index i_(ss) to the slots are according to theascending order. For example, according to the mapping corresponding to15 kHz Alt 1 with one CORESET per slot, the CORESET corresponding toSSB4 is mapped to slot #4. According to the mapping corresponding to 15kHz Alt 2 with one CORESET per slot, the CORESET corresponding to SSB4is mapped to slot #5. According to the mapping corresponding to 15 kHzAlt 1 with two CORESETs per slot, the CORESET corresponding to SSB4 ismapped to slot #2.

FIG. 12 shows the slots mapped with the CORESET burst set when RMSI SCSis 60 or 120 kHz according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Theembodiments shown in FIG. 12 is for illustration only. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The shaded slots are the ones mapped with the CORESET. The same patternmay repeat up to X times, according to the number of CORESETs requiredfor the SSB mapping.

The number of CORESETs per slot may be implicitly indicated by the ratioof the RMSI SCS to the SSB SCS if o_(common)=0 (or the FDM isindicated). In case of FDM, the number of PDSCH symbols scheduled by thePDCCH may also be pre-configured in the spec, based on the ratio of RMSISCS to SSB SCS.

Otherwise (i.e., o_(common)>0 or if TDM is indicated), the number ofCORESETs is separately indicated; and the number of PDSCH symbolsscheduled by the PDCCH may be dynamically signaled in the DCI, orseparately indicated in the PBCH.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D illustrate CORESET mappings for FDM'edCORESET PDSCH with SSBs, according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In particular, FIG. 13A illustrates an FDM case of theCORESET mapping option 1-48/96 total PRBs, FIG. 13B illustrates an FDMcase of the CORESET mapping option 1-24 total PRBs, FIG. 13C illustratesan FDM case of the CORESET mapping option 2-48/96 total PRBs, and FIG.13D illustrates a FDM case of the CORESET mapping option 2-24 totalPRBs. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D are forillustration only. Other embodiments are used without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

A CORESET for the PDSCH which is FDM'ed with an SSB, should be locatedeither prior to or before the set of OFDM symbols with SSB.

In option 1, the OFDM symbols prior to the OFDM symbols with the SSB areconfigured for the CORESET, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Thisoption is applicable regardless of whether the system iscoverage-limited or not, and whether same/different numerologies areused for the RMSI and SSB. The CORESET mapping in FIG. 7A allows for atleast 48 total PRBs in RMSI numerology. The mapping in FIG. 7B allowsfor 24 total PRBs in RMSI numerology, and hence it can be lessprioritized. In case where 240 kHz SCS is applied to SSB, the option 1mapping is challenging, as only two OFDM symbols are available prior to4 consecutive SSBs. One possibility is to map two CORESETs in each ofthese two OFDM symbol as illustrated in the figure.

In option 2, the OFDM symbols on a subset of OFDM symbols with the SSBare configured for the CORESET, as illustrated in FIGS. 7C and 7D. Thisoption may be applicable if the network is willing to operate in asmaller coverage in exchange of potentially smaller overhead, and if thenetwork can have a wide initial active BW (although it will be limitedby the UE capability). To efficiently support the Option 2, it may berequired that the UE assumes that the rest of the REs other than thoseused for the PDCCH mapping are available for PDSCH transmissions. Inother words, when FDM'ed initial active BWP is configured, for receivingthe RMSI PDSCH scheduled by the PDCCH, the UE shall rate match aroundonly the time/frequency resources (e.g., PRBs) corresponding to thePDCCH REs conveying the RMSI PDSCH scheduling information; and assumesthat all the other REs (if scheduled) are available for PDSCH datareception. FIG. 13D FDM case:

An example mapping of the number of CORESETs per slot and the number ofPDSCH symbols to the RMSI SCS and the SSB SCS when FDM is indicated isillustrated in the TABLE 6A, for which Option 1 is assumed.

TABLE 6A Number of OFDM symbol numbers for the Ratio of the Number ofOFDM CORESETs (the first symbol number SSB RMSI RMSI SCS to CORESETssymbols in corresponds to the starting OFDM SCS SCS the SSB SCS per slota PDSCH symbol of the CORESET) 15 kHz 15 kHz 1 2 4 {0, 1}, {6, 7} fori_(ss) = 2k, 2k + 1 15 kHz 30 kHz 2 1 8 {0, 1} or {2, 3} for i_(ss) =2k, 2k + 1 Alternatively, for i_(ss) = 2k: {0, 1, 2, 3} in slotn_(ss)(i_(ss)); for i_(ss) = 2k + 1: {12, 13} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1and {0, 1} in n_(ss)(i_(ss)) 15 kHz 60 kHz 4 1 12 {0, 1} 30 kHz 15 kHz ½4 2 {0}, {1}, {6}, {7} for i_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 30 kHz 30kHz 1 3 for even 4 If i_(ss) = 4k, OFDM symbols {0, 1} in slot numberedn_(ss)(i_(ss)) slots If i_(ss) = 4k + 1, OFDM symbols {2, 3} in 1 forodd slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) numbered If i_(ss) = 4k + 2, OFDM symbols {12,13} slots in slot (n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1) If i_(ss) = 4k + 3, OFDM symbols{0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) 120 kHz 60 kHz ½ 4 2 {0}, {1}, {6}, {7}for i_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 120 kHz 120 kHz 1 2 4 If i_(ss)= 4k, OFDM symbols {0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 4k + 1,OFDM symbols {2, 3} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) If i_(ss) = 4k + 2, OFDMsymbols {12, 13} in slot (n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1) If i_(ss) = 4k + 3, OFDMsymbols {0, 1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) 240 kHz 120 kHz ½ 4 2 {0}, {1},{6}, {7} for i_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 Alternatively: {0}, {1}in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) for i_(ss) = 8k, 8k + 1; {2} in slotn_(ss)(i_(ss)) for i_(ss) = 8k + 2; {3} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1 fori_(ss) = 8k + 3; {12}, {13} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1 for i_(ss) = 8k +4, 8k + 5 {0}, {1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1 for i_(ss) = 8k + 6, 8k +7; 240 kHz 60 kHz ¼ 4 1 {0} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) for i_(ss) = 8k, 8k +1; {1} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) for i_(ss) = 8k + 2 {1} in slotn_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1 for i_(ss) = 8k + 3 {6} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1for i_(ss) = 8k + 4, 8k + 5 {7} in slot n_(ss)(i_(ss)) − 1 for i_(ss) =8k + 6, 8k + 7

An example mapping of the number of CORESETs per slot and the number ofPDSCH symbols to the RMSI SCS and the SSB SCS when FDM is indicated isillustrated in the TABLE 6B, for which Option 2 is assumed.

TABLE 6B Number of OFDM symbol numbers for the Ratio of the Number ofOFDM CORESETs (the first symbol SSB RMSI RMSI SCS to CORESETs symbols ina number corresponds to the starting SCS SCS the SSB SCS per slot PDSCHOFDM symbol of the CORESET) 15 kHz 15 kHz 1 2 4 {2}, {8} for i_(ss) =2k, 2k + 1 Alternatively: {2, 3}, {8, 9} for i_(ss) = 2k, 2k + 1 15 kHz30 kHz 2 1 8 {4, 5}, {2, 3} for i_(ss) = 2k, 2k + 1 Alternatively: {4,5, 6, 7}, {2, 3, 4, 5} for i_(ss) = 2k, 2k + 1 30 kHz 15 kHz ½ 4 2 {2},{4}, {8}, {10} for i_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 30 kHz 30 kHz 1 24 {4}, {8}, {2}, {6} for i_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3Alternatively: {4, 5}, {8, 9}, {2, 3}, {6, 7} for i_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1,4k + 2, 4k + 3 120 kHz 60 kHz ½ 4 2 {2}, {4}, {8}, {10} for i_(ss) = 4k,4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 120 kHz 120 kHz 1 2 4 {4}, {8}, {2}, {6} fori_(ss) = 4k, 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 Alternatively: {4, 5}, {8, 9}, {2,3}, {6, 7} for i_(ss) = 4k. 4k + 1, 4k + 2, 4k + 3 240 kHz 120 kHz ½ 4 2{4}, {6}, {8}, {10} for i_(ss) = 8k, 8k + 1, 8k + 2, 8k + 3 {2}, {4},{6}, {8} for i_(ss) = 8k + 4, 8k + 5, 8k + 6, 8k + 7 240 kHz 60 kHz ¼ 41 {2}, {3}, {4}, {5} for i_(ss) ⁼ 8k, 8k + 1, 8k + 2, 8k + 3 {8}, {9},{10}, {11} for i_(ss) = 8k + 4, 8k + 5, 8k + 6, 8k + 7

An example mapping of the number of CORESETs per slot to the number ofPDSCH symbols when TDM is indicated is illustrated in the TABLE 6.

TABLE 6 OFDM symbol numbers for the CORESETs (the first Number of symbolnumber corresponds to CORESETs the starting OFDM symbol of per slotNumber of OFDM symbols in a PDSCH the CORESET) 1 12 {0, 1} 2 5,corresponds to Alt 1: {{0, 1}, {2, 3}} Alt 1: {{2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, {9, 10,11, 12, 13}} Alt 2: {{0, 1}, {7, 8}} Alt 2: {{4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, {9, 10,11, 12, 13}} for i_(ss) = 2k, 2k + 1 for i_(ss) = 2k, 2k + 1Alternatively: 7, corresponds to {{0-6} and {7-13}} with Alt 2 for theCORESET OFDM symbols

In some embodiments, the number of RMSI repetitions are determined as afunction of the number of OFDM symbols for the PDSCH. It is noted thatthe number of OFDM symbols for the PDSCH may be determined according tothe embodiments related to TABLE 5 or TABLE 6. One such example isillustrated in TABLE 7.

TABLE 7 # OFDM # of PDSCHs # of PDSCHs symbols # REs per slot in(repetitions) per (repetitions) per in a the UE minimum RMSI TTI for~300 RMSI TTI for ~400 PDSCH BW (of 300 SCs) bit RMSI bit RMSI 2 60016(~19.2) 24(~25.6) 4 1200 8(~9.6) 12(~12.8) 7 2100 4(~5.5) 8(~7.3) 123600 4(~3.2) 4(~4.3) 5 1500 8(~7.7)  8(~10.2)

Overall signaling tables, Tables 8A-8C, constructed according to someembodiments of the present disclosure can be found as follows:Indication 1: # of OFDM symbols & RMSI CORESET BW—1 bit; Indication 2:Frequency offset of CORESET—7 bits (including floating sync), or 3 bits(excluding floating sync); or Indication 3: RMSI CORESET slot offseto_(RMSI)—1 bit. Indication 4: # of CORESETs per slot, starting OFDMsymbol number, RMSI CORESET window periodicity—1 bit. Indication 5:CORESET-specific slot offset ƒ(n_(ss), i_(ss)) from o_(RMSI)—1 bit (TDMonly).

TABLE 8A o_(RMSI) (Either 1 separate TDM vs. State of bit or jointlycoded with FDM indication #3 frequency offset) FDM 0 0 1 Reserved TDM 0o₁ 1 o₂

TABLE 8B TDM vs. State of # of CORESETs Starting OFDM RMSI CORESET FDMindication #4 per slot symbol number window periodicity TDM 0 1 0 Afirst periodicity (e.g., (RMSI TTI)/4 msec) 1 2 0 if i_(SSB) is 2k Asecond periodicity 7 if i_(SSB) is 2k + 1 (e.g., (RMSI TTI)/8 msec) FDM0 Hard coded in the Hard coded in the A third periodicity (e.g., specspec (RMSI TTI)/8 msec) 1 Hard coded in the Hard coded in the A fourthperiodicity (e.g., spec spec (RMSI TTI)/16 msec)

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary SIBx CORESET transmission timingaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodimentshown in FIG. 14 is for illustration only. Other embodiments are usedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The CORESETs that are QCL'ed with different SSBs are TDM'ed. The UE whodetects SSB i should be able to find the timing for CORESET i, which isQCL'ed with the SSB. UE can find the timing with jointly considering SSBindex i and the commonly signalled PBCH contents.

An example construction of indication #5 is shown in TABLE 8C.

TABLE 8C TDM vs. # of CORESETs State of Slot offset f(n_(ss), i_(ss))SSB to RMSI FDM per slot indication #5 from o_(RMSI) CORESET mapping TDM1 0 i_(ss) One-to-one mapping 1 floor(i_(ss)/2) Two-to-one mapping 2 0floor(i_(ss)/2) One-to-one mapping 1 floor(i_(ss)/4) Two-to-one mapping

FIGS. 15A, 15BA and 15BB illustrate alternative SIBx CORESETtransmission timings according to embodiments of the present disclosure.The embodiments shown in FIGS. 15A, 15BA and 15BB are for illustrationonly. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Given the very limited payload available in the PBCH to configure RMSICORESETs and RMSI timing, some parameters need to be fixed in thespecification, i.e., only essential information that are necessary to beinformed for the UE to receive RMSI PDCCH/PDSCH needs to be included.

In order to deal with FDM and TDM mapping of RMSI and SSBs, it isnecessary to make frequency domain mapping information (i.e., PRBs andfrequency position) configurable. In addition, to cope with bothmini-slot and non-mini slot mapping, and also to provide sufficientPDCCH coverage, it is also necessary to make the set of OFDM symbolindices for a CORESET configurable. In consideration of the multi-beamRMSI and mini-slot mapping, the CORESET OFDM symbols should bedetermined by using the common PBCH contents and SSB index jointly.

The RMSI timing configuration needs to be known at the UE when trying todecode RMSI. The timing configuration can be either fixed in the spec,or at least partially configured by the network, for network resourceutilization flexibility/efficiency. As both mini-slots and full slotsare agreed to be used for RMSI transmissions, hard-coded timing can beruled out. The multi-beam RMSI mapping in time domain should take atleast the mini-slot or full-slot mapping of RMSI; and the beam-specificRMSI timing needs to be conveyed via the SSB index. The OSI timingconfiguration should be done similar to RMSI timing configuration, i.e.,some information conveyed via PBCH and SSB index should be jointly used.

Then, the rest of information does not seem to be essential to be madeconfigurable, although this may imply that some system-operationflexibility might be lost. It is already challenging to indicate onlythose above information in the PBCH, given the maximum payload of [8]bits excluding the numerology indication.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary diagram illustrating how RMSI CORESET parametersare configured according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.The embodiment shown in FIG. 16 is for illustration only. Otherembodiments are used without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Frequency domain parameters are indicated via the common MIB contents.

The OFDM symbols and RMSI PDCCH monitoring windows are CORESET specific,and determined by the SSB index conveyed in the SSB and the common PBCHcontents.

OSI (SIBx, x>1) PDCCH monitoring windows are determined CORESETspecifically, by the SSB index conveyed in the SSB, the common PBCHcontents and the RMSI contents.

The PDCCH DMRS of the CORESET i (for which some of those parameters aredetermined according to SSB index i) can be assumed to be QCL'ed withSSB i.

Time domain parameters include a set of OFDM symbol indices in a slotcorresponding to a CORESET, and RMSI timing configuration (i.e., PDCCHmonitoring occasions for RMSI).

SSBs are QCL'ed with CORESETs rather than search spaces. A CORESET canpotentially be used for multiple sets of search spaces, e.g., for commonand UE specific sets of search spaces. According to the decision, theCORESET timing does not need to be separately indicated, and the CORESETtiming is determined as a union of the timing instances for theconfigured search spaces for the CORESET. It would be sufficient if PBCHcan provide RMSI monitoring timing.

FIG. 17 is another exemplary diagram illustrating how RMSI CORESETparameters are configured according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is for illustration only.Other embodiments are used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Frequency domain parameters, the number of CORESET OFDM symbols and aset of aggregation levels are indicated via the common MIB contents.

In the set of aggregation levels, 4, 8, [16] CCE aggregation levelsshould be supported (for ensuring the PDCCH coverage), and/or 48 and 96total number of REGs should be supported (depending on FDM vs. TDM andavailable operator BW), where the number is determined implicitly by theindication of CORESET BW and number of OFDM symbols.

A starting position of the CORESET OFDM symbols, and RMSI PDCCHmonitoring windows are CORESET specific, and determined by the SSB indexconveyed in the SSB and the common PBCH contents.

OSI (SIBx, x>1) PDCCH monitoring windows are determined CORESETspecifically, by the SSB index conveyed in the SSB, the common PBCHcontents and the RMSI contents.

The PDCCH DMRS of the CORESET i (for which some of those parameters aredetermined according to SSB index i) can be assumed to be QCL'ed withSSB i.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of a method 1800 forreceiving control information in a wireless communication system, as maybe performed by a UE, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The embodiment of the method 1800 shown in FIG. 18 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 18can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 18, the method 1800 begins at step 1810. In step 1810,the UE receives a synchronization signal/physical broadcasting channel(SS/PBCH) block of an index i from a base station (BS). The SS/PBCHblock comprises a PBCH carrying master information block (MIB).

In step 1820, for the SS/PBCH block of the index i, the UE determines aslot index no, as a sum of an offset value and [i*M]. The offset valueis determined based on a first value O and a second value μ. The firstvalue O can be determined according to an index indicated in the MIB,pdcch-ConfigSIB1, in which the index configures physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasions. The second value μ can beindicated in the MIB, wherein the second value μ represents a subcarrierspacing configuration. Here, M is a positive number determined accordingto the pdcch-ConfigSIB1.

Subsequently, the UE in step 1830 performs PDCCH monitoring and decodesa PDCCH in the slot index no.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

None of the description in this application should be read as implyingthat any particular element, step, or function is an essential elementthat must be included in the claims scope. The scope of patented subjectmatter is defined only by the claims. Moreover, none of the claims areintended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the exact words “means for”are followed by a participle.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a user equipment (UE) in awireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, from abase station (BS), a synchronization signal/physical broadcastingchannel (SS/PBCH) block; determining at least one parameter for aphysical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasions based onat least one of a multiplexing pattern, an index of the SS/PBCH block,and a subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH; and receiving, from the BS, thePDCCH on the PDCCH monitoring occasions based on the at least oneparameter.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the multiplexingpattern is a first multiplexing pattern: the at least one parametercomprises a starting slot index for the PDCCH, and determining the atleast one parameter comprises determining the starting slot index forthe PDCCH based on the index of SS/PBCH block, an offset indicated bymaster information block (MIB) comprised in the SS/PBCH block, and avalue of numerology indicated by a subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein: the offset is from a set of candidateoffsets, and the set of candidate offsets comprises {0, 2, 5, 7} or {0,2.5, 5, 7.5}.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: when the multiplexingpattern is a first multiplexing pattern: the at least one parametercomprises a first symbol index for the PDCCH, and determining the atleast one parameter comprises determining the first symbol index basedon a number of search space sets per slot, and the number of searchspace sets per slot is 1 or
 2. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein, whenthe multiplexing pattern is a second multiplexing pattern or a thirdmultiplexing pattern: the at least one parameter comprises a slot indexfor the PDCCH, and determining the at least one parameter comprisesdetermining the slot index for the PDCCH to be a same value as a slotindex for the SS/PBCH block or a value of the slot index for the SS/PBCHblock minus 1 based on a first subcarrier spacing for the SS/PBCH block,a second subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH, and the index of the SS/PBCHblock.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the multiplexing patternis a second multiplexing pattern or a third multiplexing pattern: the atleast one parameter comprises a first symbol index for the PDCCH, anddetermining the at least one parameter comprises determining the firstsymbol index for the PDCCH based on a first subcarrier spacing for theSS/PBCH block, a second subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH and the indexof the SS/PBCH block.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein, when themultiplexing pattern is the second multiplexing pattern, the firstsubcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz, and the second subcarrier spacingvalue is 60 kHz: the first symbol index is determined as 0, 1, 6, 7,when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 4k, 4k+1, 4k+2, 4k+3,respectively, where k is an integer.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein,when the multiplexing pattern is the second multiplexing pattern, thefirst subcarrier spacing value is 240 kHz, and the second subcarrierspacing value is 120 kHz: the first symbol index is determined as 0, 1,2, 3, 0, 1, when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 8k, 8k+1,8k+2, 8k+3, 8k+6, 8k+8, respectively, where k is an integer, and a slotindex for the PDCCH is a same value as a slot index for the SS/PBCHblock, the first symbol index is determined as 12, 13, when the index ofthe SS/PBCH block is equal to 8k+4, 8k+5, respectively, where k is aninteger, and the slot index for the PDCCH is a value of the slot indexfor the SS/PBCH block minus
 1. 9. The method of claim 7, wherein, whenthe multiplexing pattern is the third multiplexing pattern, the firstsubcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz, and the second subcarrier spacingvalue is 120 kHz: the first symbol index is determined as 4, 8, 2, 6,when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 4k, 4k+1, 4k+2, 4k+3,respectively, where k is an integer.
 10. A user equipment (UE) in awireless communication system, the UE comprising: a transceiverconfigured to receive, from a base station (BS), a synchronizationsignal/physical broadcasting channel (SS/PBCH) block; and a processoroperably connected to the transceiver, the processor configured todetermine at least one parameter for a physical downlink control channel(PDCCH) monitoring occasions based on at least one of a multiplexingpattern, an index of the SS/PBCH block, and a subcarrier spacing for thePDCCH, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive, fromthe BS, the PDCCH on the PDCCH monitoring occasions based on the atleast one parameter.
 11. The UE of claim 10, wherein, when themultiplexing pattern is a first multiplexing pattern: the at least oneparameter comprises a starting slot index for the PDCCH, and theprocessor is configured to determine the starting slot index for thePDCCH based on the index of SS/PBCH block, an offset indicated by masterinformation block (MIB) comprised in the SS/PBCH block, and a value ofnumerology indicated by a subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH.
 12. The UEof claim 11, wherein: the offset is from a set of candidate offsets, andthe set of candidate offsets comprises {0, 2, 5, 7} or {0, 2.5, 5, 7.5}.13. The UE of claim 10, wherein: when the multiplexing pattern is afirst multiplexing pattern: the at least one parameter comprises a firstsymbol index for the PDCCH, and the processor is configured to determinethe first symbol index based on a number of search space sets per slot,and the number of search space sets per slot is 1 or
 2. 14. The UE ofclaim 10, wherein, when the multiplexing pattern is a secondmultiplexing pattern or a third multiplexing pattern: the at least oneparameter comprises a slot index for the PDCCH, and the processor isconfigured to determine the slot index for the PDCCH to be a same valueas a slot index for the SS/PBCH block or a value of the slot index forthe SS/PBCH block minus 1 based on a first subcarrier spacing for theSS/PBCH block, a second subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH, and the indexof the SS/PBCH block.
 15. The UE of claim 10, wherein, when themultiplexing pattern is a second multiplexing pattern or a thirdmultiplexing pattern: the at least one parameter comprises a firstsymbol index for the PDCCH, and the processor is configured to determinethe first symbol index for the PDCCH based on a first subcarrier spacingfor the SS/PBCH block, a second subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH and theindex of the SS/PBCH block.
 16. The UE of claim 15, wherein, when themultiplexing pattern is the second multiplexing pattern, the firstsubcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz, and the second subcarrier spacingvalue is 60 kHz: the first symbol index is determined as 0, 1, 6, 7,when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 4k, 4k+1, 4k+2, 4k+3,respectively, where k is an integer.
 17. The UE of claim 16, wherein,when the multiplexing pattern is the second multiplexing pattern, thefirst subcarrier spacing value is 240 kHz, and the second subcarrierspacing value is 120 kHz: the first symbol index is determined as 0, 1,2, 3, 0, 1, when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 8k, 8k+1,8k+2, 8k+3, 8k+6, 8k+8, respectively, where k is an integer, and a slotindex for the PDCCH is a same value as a slot index for the SS/PBCHblock, the first symbol index is determined as 12, 13, when the index ofthe SS/PBCH block is equal to 8k+4, 8k+5, respectively, where k is aninteger, and the slot index for the PDCCH is a value of the slot indexfor the SS/PBCH block minus
 1. 18. The UE of claim 16, wherein, when themultiplexing pattern is the third multiplexing pattern, the firstsubcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz, and the second subcarrier spacingvalue is 120 kHz: the first symbol index is determined as 4, 8, 2, 6,when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 4k, 4k+1, 4k+2, 4k+3,respectively, where k is an integer.
 19. A base station (BS) in awireless communication system, the BS comprising: a processor configuredto generate a synchronization signal/physical broadcasting channel(SS/PBCH) block, a transceiver operably connected to the processor, thetransceiver configured to: transmit, to a user equipment (UE), theSS/PBCH block, wherein at least one parameter for a physical downlinkcontrol channel (PDCCH) monitoring occasions is indicated based on atleast one of a multiplexing pattern, an index of the SS/PBCH block, anda subcarrier spacing for the PDCCH; and transmit, to the UE, the PDCCHon the PDCCH monitoring occasions based on the at least one parameter.20. The BS of claim 19, wherein, when the multiplexing pattern is afirst multiplexing pattern: the at least one parameter comprises astarting slot index for the PDCCH, and the starting slot index for thePDCCH is indicated based on the index of SS/PBCH block, an offsetindicated by master information block (MIB) comprised in the SS/PBCHblock, and a value of numerology indicated by a subcarrier spacing forthe PDCCH.
 21. The BS of claim 20, wherein: the offset is from a set ofcandidate offsets, and the set of candidate offsets comprises {0, 2, 5,7} or {0, 2.5, 5, 7.5}.
 22. The BS of claim 19, wherein: when themultiplexing pattern is a first multiplexing pattern: the at least oneparameter comprises a first symbol index for the PDCCH, and the firstsymbol index is indicated based on a number of search space sets perslot, and the number of search space sets per slot is 1 or
 2. 23. The BSof claim 19, wherein, when the multiplexing pattern is a secondmultiplexing pattern or a third multiplexing pattern: the at least oneparameter comprises a slot index for the PDCCH, and the slot index forthe PDCCH is indicated to be a same value as a slot index for theSS/PBCH block or a value of the slot index for the SS/PBCH block minus 1based on a first subcarrier spacing for the SS/PBCH block, a secondsubcarrier spacing for the PDCCH, and the index of the SS/PBCH block.24. The BS of claim 19, wherein, when the multiplexing pattern is asecond multiplexing pattern or a third multiplexing pattern: the atleast one parameter comprises a first symbol index for the PDCCH, andthe the first symbol index for the PDCCH is indicated based on a firstsubcarrier spacing for the SS/PBCH block, a second subcarrier spacingfor the PDCCH and the index of the SS/PBCH block.
 25. The BS of claim24, wherein, when the multiplexing pattern is the second multiplexingpattern, the first subcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz, and the secondsubcarrier spacing value is 60 kHz: the first symbol index is indicatedas 0, 1, 6, 7, when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 4k, 4k+1,4k+2, 4k+3, respectively, where k is an integer.
 26. The BS of claim 25,wherein, when the multiplexing pattern is the second multiplexingpattern, the first subcarrier spacing value is 240 kHz, and the secondsubcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz: the first symbol index is indicatedas 0, 1, 2, 3, 0, 1, when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 8k,8k+1, 8k+2, 8k+3, 8k+6, 8k+8, respectively, where k is an integer, and aslot index for the PDCCH is a same value as a slot index for the SS/PBCHblock, the first symbol index is indicated as 12, 13, when the index ofthe SS/PBCH block is equal to 8k+4, 8k+5, respectively, where k is aninteger, and the slot index for the PDCCH is a value of the slot indexfor the SS/PBCH block minus
 1. 27. The BS of claim 25, wherein, when themultiplexing pattern is the third multiplexing pattern, the firstsubcarrier spacing value is 120 kHz, and the second subcarrier spacingvalue is 120 kHz: the first symbol index is indicated as 4, 8, 2, 6,when the index of the SS/PBCH block is equal to 4k, 4k+1, 4k+2, 4k+3,respectively, where k is an integer.